Doctor Answers 2

Lipo doesn't tighten

April 9th, 2011

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Hello,

If you are looking into tightening, then you are likely looking at potential tummy tuck surgery as lipo really doesn't tighten much if at all. Smart Lipo tightens a little, but but is unpredictable in his regard.

Mini tucks under local anesthesia

April 8th, 2011

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Liposuction is great for removing fat but doesn't address loose skin in most cases. If there is a lot of loose skin in the tummy (such as after multiple pregnancies), then a tummy-tuck is more appropriate.

With laser lipo (SmartLipo, Lipotherme, SlimLipo -- many different brands) -- the idea is that the laser will help tighten the skin as well as remove the fat. It's never as dramatic as a tummy-tuck, but is minimally invasive and can do a good job of tightening mild loose skin thus avoiding a major tummy-tuck.

Another option is a mini-tummy tuck where lipo is done throughout the entire abdomen, and then a small amount of loose skin is taken out into an existing C-Section or Hysterectomy scar. It is not as long a scar and an easier recovery than a full tummy-tuck. It may be appropriate for some patients with a mild or minor amount of loose skin.

In summary--lipo is great for fat removal but not for skin tightening. Laser Lipo (all major brands) do a better job than traditional lipo for skin tightening, but are not as great as a tummy-tuck. A mini-tummy tuck may be a good compromise.

Liposuction Pictures

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